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The Napier Sabre

When it comes to inline aviation engines, nothing really says ‘brute force’ like the Napier Sabre.

Where Rolls-Royce failed with their ‘X’ configuration Vulture, Napier succeeded (after some teething problems) with the ‘H’ configuration Sabre.

From around 2000 HP in 1939, the power of the sleeve-valved 24-cylinder engine grew to a whopping 3000 HP by the end of the war, placing it virtually on par with monster radials like the Bristol Centaurus.

The Sabre is most famous as the powerplant for the Typhoon and Tempest (latter pictured at The Royal Air Force Museum London).